Candidates discuss views, education

Friday

Oct 26, 2012 at 6:00 AMNov 1, 2012 at 10:12 AM

Candidates were given an opportunity to discuss their views on topics including education, localized government and economic development at the Thursday night Pottawatomie County Advocates for Voter Education forum.

Carmen Bourlon

Candidates were given an opportunity to discuss their views on topics including education, localized government and economic development at the Thursday night Pottawatomie County Advocates for Voter Education forum.

“I consider education as the gateway out of poverty,” she said. “Every citizen has a birthright to the best quality public education our society can give.”

Newell agreed that education must be a priority.

“Education is obviously a priority,” he said. “Funding is important, it takes dollars to educate.”

He added that he didn’t believe simply adding money would solve the problem.

“We also have to make sure however that those dollars are being used efficiently and wisely, and that those dollars are actually making it to the classroom where they need to go,” Newell said.

Candidates were asked their views on health care.

Newell said he would support keeping rural hospitals open, however he encouraged citizens to consider their “personal responsibility,” when using those resources.

He said, “…the emergency room should not be the place of choice when you have a runny nose,”

“We have to look at the personal responsibility side of that as well,” Newell said.

Rainwater agreed saying she would also keep rural hospitals open.

“I understand the critical need for accessible health care,” she said. “We all know that in any community that is wanting to draw jobs, we have to have good medical services and a modern hospital facility.”